Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Holy cow...the Coupon Cabin Hop surely lived up to its name. 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz has proved to be the best thing that's ever happened to this little blog. We gained HUNDREDS (literally...HUNDREDS) of new followers, subscribers, and Facebook friends, and we promoted some really awesome companies. Speaking of that, let me tell you a little more about these ah-mazing folks who we've had the pleasure of working with over the past 3 months (cos that's how long it took to put together this FAB prize package!)

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Disclaimer: I received a $25 gift code to use at Melissa and Doug in exchange for this sponsored post. Thoughts and opinions do not necessarily reflect those of TCC and its affiliates.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

To celebrate the beginning of the holiday season, we’ve teamed up with our closest 50 friends to bring you a fun cash giveaway!

One lucky winner will get a head start on their shopping (or splurge on yourself at a spa) and have $1000 deposited directly into their Paypal account!! How does that sound to you??

This giveaway is sponsored by 50 incredible businesses and blogs – and you’ll love getting the chance to check them out. To enter, You are REQUIRED to simply follow each of the steps using the Rafflecopter form below! Also, go check out the fabulous business owners and bloggers involved in this event. Giveaway starts 10/31 at 12:00 am EST and ends 11/11 at 11:59 pm EST. Good Luck!

We Love our Readers, You deserve to win $1000!

The cash giveaway is open to all worldwide (paid in US dollars) and will be paid directly into your PayPal account.

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Monday, October 31, 2011

You've found it! This is the post where you'll enter my amazing giveaway package valued at over $1300! WOO HOO! Rather than bore you with my ramblings, let's get to it!

Welcome to Coupon Cabin's 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz! This multi-blog event is hosted by Simply Stacie, Makobi Scribe and Sassy Mama in LA and is sponsored by CouponCabin. This is the biggest event the blogosphere has seen with over 400 giveaways each at $25 value or more plus a huge giveaway with some major prizes like a MacBook Air, iPad2 & Visa Gift Cards. You can find all the giveaways from the participating blogs by visiting the host blogs, Simply Stacie, Makobi Scribe and Sassy Mama in LA. Each host blog will feature a different set of giveaways for you to enter!

No matter what type of coupon you're looking for, you'll find it and over 100,000 others at CouponCabin.com, a leading destination for coupon codes, printable coupons, deals and more. Now with a new and improved grocery coupons section and thelargest selection of coupon codes that are guaranteed to work, CouponCabin is the best place to start your search for savings. This holiday season, CouponCabin is dedicated to making holiday savings as easy as pie by bringing you the best deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You can also download our CouponDetector and we'll let you know when the site you’re shopping has coupons and deals available. Never pay full price again with help from CouponCabin.com!CouponCabin is giving away the following fabulous prizes:

Please visit Simply Stacie, Makobi Scribe and Sassy Mama in LA to enter the giveaway and make sure to say The Crafty Charlestonian referred you! You can enter on all three sites or just one- it’s up to you! If you enter all three giveaways that just means more chances for you to win.

TCC's Giveaway Package is PHENOMENAL! We've never had a giveaway package with a dollar value this high...

Ready to get entering? Just use the super easy Rafflecopter Form below to get your entries in for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

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Enter the other blogs' giveaways in the CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz by visiting the links below!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

I really hope no one is offended by this post...because its really simple. That said, I didn't exactly know how to make one of these, so I read up on the whole thing and then decided to just go it on my own and see what happened. Result...success!

Pretty much what you've got here is simple...a plastic tote (got mine from the Dollah Stow...aka the Dollar Store...for $7.00) and a ginormous bag of rice (got a 20 lb. bag from Publix for $13.00). Toys we already had...I used the girls' metal pots and pans from their IKEA Kitchen Sets (they've never gotten played with before now) and some old spoons...and of course, some Strawberry Shortcake and other Mc Donald's toys.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Y'all know I'm a dog lover. Part of being a Dog-Mom is being a responsible owner...and that means keeping your pet healthy and active. Hill's Pet Nutrition provides your dog the best Nutrition to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. But many pets are NOT healthy, which is why Hill's Science Diet started the Hill's Healthy Mobility Challenge. All you have to do is register and you'll receive $30 in Hill's Healthy Mobility Coupon - how awesome! Even better -- you'll automatically be entered in the Sweepstakes where 30 winners will receive FREE PET FOOD for a year! HOLY COW! Just feed your dog Hill's Science Diet for 30 days, help your dog live an active life, track your dog's progress over the 30 days, and then go back to Hill's to share your story. And feel free to share your story all over the place -- like Hill's Pet Nutrition on Facebook and then share your story there -- surely there are TONS of other doggie parents who would LOVE to hear your dog's progress. I will definitely be taking this challenge with my pups -- they need to shed a few pounds and all of us could use some extra activity.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Hard to believe that our biiiiiiig My Little Pony Birthday celebration is right around the corner! Invitations just went out and the RSVP's are starting to come in. (A huge thanks to Pixelicious Creations for her amazing Invitation and Thank You card design!) I’m in full swing planning mode and really getting down to the nitty gritty of layouts, how many of this or that will I need to make, etc. etc.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Tomorrow is the last day of September, so you know what that means. October 1st will be here before we know it...and that means its time to start thinking about Halloween and all the fun that goes along with costume shopping!

TCC has been scouring the web searching for the BEST costumes from the BEST company with the BEST prices and the BEST customer service. After much looking, we've found our...

Aren't you just DYING to know who's earned our prestigious title??? Well wait no longer because we're ready to share! Our 2011 Costumer of the Year is....

Monday, September 26, 2011

Sculptz are a new line of hosiery and legwear from Silkies (the brand you know and trust) and let me tell you, they are FABULOUS! Being a plus-size girl, I need shaping...everywhere. That's where Sculptz comes in. Their line of shapewear is fantastic, stylish, comfortable, and affordable!

There. I said it. I admitted how I feel. Which is awful. As I write this, my sweet little almost-2-year-old is screaming bloody murder from her room in a futile attempt to NOT nap.This happens on the daily around here, so its not the screaming that's making me feel terrible about me as a Mommy.

Fall is finally here...my favorite time of year. While I love summer and always have, living in New England made me appreciate Fall in a whole new way...and in turn, its become my favorite season...and not just because I get to say, "Happy Fall, Y'all!" *snort* I just wish there were more of a Fall here in South Carolina. But, despite our lack of foliage, cool weather, apple orchards, and "true" fall, we can have an awesome party to celebrate all the season's fun happenings...thanks to elevencupcakes!

Imagine Toys (your favorite online toy store) has partnered with yours truly for an evening of fun, toy-talk, and chit-chat about the upcoming toy-buying frenzy....yep, I'm talking about the HOLIDAYS! Come party from your couch (in your super-comfy slippers) and win some awesome Imagine Toys loot to put under the tree for your Littles this year!

I don’t get much time to read blogs…which is a bummer, but that’s life. Over the past few months I have caught a few posts here and there, though. And I gotta tell ya, what I read was a little unnerving. These posts (all from different Mom Bloggers) had a common thread. Each of them painted this sort of “perfect life” picture in their posts.

“I sipped coffee this morning from my porch in a $5,000 Pottery Barn chair with the cool breeze blowing through my freshly washed and flat-ironed hair while my children sat quietly playing with organic wooden toys (because we don’t do plastic.) Then I came into my immaculately clean home and had every affluent mother this side of the Mississippi over for coffee cake (my award-winning recipe) and meaningful conversation. Then we went shopping and scored cart-fulls of Missoni for Target for next to nothing because we’re so amazing. What a great morning!”

If you're a Mom, chances are you've got a diaper bag. If you're not a Mom, chances are you've got a purse. If you're pregnant, chances are you're looking for that *perfect* diaper bag. If you're a Dad, chances are you hate carrying around a diaper bag.

Moms, Women, Moms-to-Be, and Dads -- listen up. You need to read this. If you're a Mom, there is probably something you can't stand about your diaper bag. If you're not a Mom, there is probably something you can't stand about your purse. If you're pregnant, I'll give you a hint...those cheap diaper bags are NOT what you really want or need, so stop kidding yourself. And if you're a Dad, I've got a line of bags *just* for you. (Don't squeal with delight...people will look at you funny because you're a man.) :)

I know that filtered water and home filtration systems have been around for a long time. I know that. I know I'm waaaaay behind the times because we still drink water from the tap...err...we *used* to drink water from the tap. After trying out PUR's One-Click Faucet Mount filtration systems and finding this in my less-than-3-year-old faucet, I'll never drink another drop of unfiltered water....

Thursday, September 15, 2011

When I was a kid, learning the alphabet was pretty boring. I remember flashcards and "Letter of the Week" at preschool, but nothing like what kids have today. Take Alphabeasts for example. These adorable plush monsters are sure to encourage your child's letter-learning.

Wondering where to buy your little one's costume this year? Look no further than TCC! That's right, we've scoured the web, every catalog, and boutique and we're close to deciding this year's prestigious

We'll name the lucky company next week so you have plenty of time to shop with them before Halloween!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

They say that scent is the strongest sense tied to memory. If that's true, then Scentsy is surely helping me make tons of memories...disguised as just a gorgeous wickless candle. Amber Kelly, our Scentsy rep, hooked us up with some amazing Scentsy products and honestly, I can't wait for 10 years from now.

Fabric.com (the World's Greatest Fabric Shop) has partnered with yours truly for an evening of fun, fabric, and crafty awesomesauce. But wait...it gets better! You don't have to get all gussied up... party from your couch in your super-comfy slippers cos its a TWITTER PARTY!

In the past twenty years, children have lost an average of 8 hours of recess a week, and some schools no longer provide play time for students. According to the American Academy of Pediatricians, the lack of play time is a national crisis leading to a growing epidemic: childhood obesity.

Based on characters created by best-selling crime novelist Tess Gerritsen, RIZZOLI & ISLES stars Angie Harmon as Jane Rizzoli, a tough-as-nails Boston police detective, and Sasha Alexander as Maura Isles, a smart, impeccably dressed medical examiner from a privileged background. Despite being complete opposites, the two women share an offbeat chemistry and strong working relationship that has helped them bust some of Boston's most notorious criminals.

Friday, September 9, 2011

For the first time EVER, my children shared. As in, they sat together and played nicely with some toys. This may be a regular occurrence in your home and if so, don't you dare get all Sancti-Mommy on me. My girls are 13 months apart. One will be three in less than a month. The other will be two in 6 weeks. They are not programmed to share at this age. And even if they were, they'd never share with each other.

But they did. They shared. And they (gasp) liked it.

So what amazingly fun-filled toy is the culprit for this sisterly interaction?

Its no surprise that I love to bake...and the girls love to help me bake. I mean, they love to help me make HUGE messes in the kitchen. We also love our dogs...and we love spoiling them rot-ten. Combine all of that together and you have this morning's activity....Homemade Dog Cookies.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Simply Stacie has a new giveaway hop. I get a $20 target gift card for every single person who signs up and says I referred them (The Crafty Charlestonian). Then you can refer and get $20 target GC for every referral you get!!

Here’s the info:

You won’t believe the AMAZING prizes that CouponCabin will be giving to readers who enter the giveaway:

Grand Prize: MacBook Air (11-inch, 128GB; ARV $1,199)

First Runner Up: iPad2 (16GB, with Wi-Fi +3G; ARV $629)

Second Runner Up: $250 VISA Gift Card

Other Prizes: $100 VISA Gift Cards will be given out to four (4) additional winners

And here’s the BEST part… CouponCabin will ALSO be giving away the same awesome prizes to bloggers who participate in the giveaway hop:

The blogger who refers the most readers to the giveaway will win a MacBook Air

The blogger who refers the 2nd most readers to the giveaway will win an iPad2

The blogger who refers the 3rd most readers to the giveaway will win a $250 Visa Gift Card

Total Value of Prizes: $4,300!!

But WAIT. There’s more. Yes, It gets EVEN BETTER!!

Not only will each blogger who joins be eligible for the Blogger Prizes, they will also receive one (1) $20 Target Gift Card for every blog they refer who registers to participate in the event. Please note you cannot refer yourself.

We told you this was CRAZY!!

The main giveaway for these fantastic prizes will be held on the three host blogs and we will also feature a linky so that readers can hop to enter all the other giveaways on participating blogs. Reader entries will start on November 1st and go through November 25th.

Sign-up now to secure your spot!

How to Participate:

Sign up on the form HERE and send a $5 administrative fee via Paypal to SassyScorpYM@gmail.com

When:

November 1 at 12:01 am EST to November 25, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be announced during a live event on Twitter on November 28th. Further details will follow at a later date.

Requirements for participating blogs:

Have a giveaway specifically for this event and cannot start before start time, or end before specified end time

Minimum prize/pack value of $25

Display the event button in your post so hoppers can easily identify it

Sign up for CouponCabin’s Blogger Email Newsletter. They will send you top coupons, promotion and giveaway announcements geared specifically for bloggers. There is no cost to joining their newsletter. By providing your email address at sign up, you will be automatically enrolled.

Since this event is sponsored by CouponCabin, we ask that your giveaway sponsor for this specific event not be in direct competition with them (ie. another coupon website).

Only bloggers who are participating in CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz are eligible for the Blogger prizes (Macbook Air, iPad2 and VISA Gift Cards).

The Blogger & Reader Prizes will be open to both US & Canada.

What does all this mean for you?

A great deal of traffic to your blog, opportunities to network with other bloggers and eligibility to win the Blogger prizes! Plus it will be lots of fun!

Want to take part in CouponCabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz Hop?

Sign ups are now open! Please fill out the form (and say that The Crafty Charlestonian referred you!) and submit your administrative fee of $5 to SassyScorpYM@gmail.com We will email you within 24 hours to confirm your participation. Then please spread the word and tell others about this amazing hop and to say that YOU referred them!!

PLEASE GO ENTER NOW AND SAY I REFERRED YOU! Whether you are a seasoned giveaway participant or this is your first time, it it the perfect opportunity to increase your blog traffic. Any questions please feel free to contact me!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Growing up with an August Birthday may very well have been my favorite thing about myself. I was one of those awesome kids who DIDN'T have to go to school on my birthday...cos it was still summer! I loved it. I had pool parties, beach parties, and all kinds of outdoor-ey and summer-themed parties. Unlike all my friends who had winter birthdays (ha ha winter babies!), I had the coolest parties every year. Only time it WASN'T the coolest was when all my friends got to bring cupcakes to school on their birthday.